Grapple



Patented Feb. 5, 1952 1 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE f #584,853 I I I GRAPPLE- Walter H, Elsey, Marble, Ark. Application November-15, 1946, Serial No.,710,038 I I 1 Claim (Cl.'294-99) This invention relates to grapples, and has I for one of its objects the production of a simple and efficient means for holding the grapple I blades firmly in engagement with the jar links so as'to avoid shearing oil the securing bolts during the process of penetrating hard filling in a well.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for holding the grapple blades against lateral swing and strain when the blades are secured to the jar links.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of th ppl Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the grapple, looking at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the jar link and grapple blades, illustrating the means for anchoring the blades in proper set alignment;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, the lower bolt being removed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the jar link illustrating the bladeanchoring socket;

Figure 6 is an inverted sectional perspective view of the trigger unapplied; and v Figure 7 is a perspective view of the opener tool for the grapple blades.

By referring to the drawing it will be een that In designates the jar links of the gra, ple of a type somewhat similar to that illustipalted in the patent to George W. Russell, #1321234, of July 16, 1929.

The jar links comprise an upper section. and a lower section l2, which lower section I2 is provided with a depending portion I 3. A pair of grapple blades I4 are secured to the depending portion I3 by means of the conventional transversely extending securing bolts I5.

The depending portion I3 is provided with a transversely extending slot I6 located above and in alignment with the apertures I! which receive the bolts I5. Each grapple blade I! is provided with an inwardly bent right-angularly anchoring tongue I-8 at its upper end which ,fits snugly within the anchoring slot I6 of theldepending portion I3. The slots I6 are formed in opposite sides or faces of the depending portions I 3 so as to receive the inwardly extending -"-right-angularly extending anchoring tongues I8 ofthe opposite grapple blades I4. 'By means of these tongues I8 which fit within the sockets IS, the grapple blades I4 will be firmly held'in alignment with the depending portion I3 and these tongues I8 will resist anystrain upon the grapple blades I4 which might otherwise tend to shear off the bolts I5.

In actual practice it has been found that the bolts I5 which are of the conventional type and which are ordinarily used in grapples of the character described very often become sheared off due to the fact that the strain wears upon the bolts and the apertures through which the bolts extend, thereby permitting increasing lateral sway of the grapple blades. From repeated use the bolts often become sheared off and the grapples drop into the well. Where the well is tightly packed with rock and debris it is necessary to penetrate the hard filling of the well by dropping the grapples a considerable distance. The impact has been found to shear off the bolts which hold the blades to the jar links since the blades are only about one-fourth of an inch thick, and it is a difficult task to fish the blades out of the well. By providing the anchoring tongue l8 and the slots IE, it has been found that the shearing of the bolts can be avoided in a great majority of cases.

In conjunction with the grapple blades I4 I employ a hinged trigger I9 similar to the trigger in the patent to Russell, above identified, one section 20 being secured to one grapple blade I 4 and the other section 2! being secured to the companion grapple blade I4. A cable 22 is connected to the trigger and may be anchored, as at 23.

In Figure 7 there is shown a perspective view of a tool which may be used in connection with the present invention for the purpose of operating the grapple blades, and this tool comprises a handle 24 and an offset loop portion 25 which is adapted to fit between the ends of the grapple blades, and a foot-engaging portion 26. This tool is preferably bent from a single one-half inch rod. By placing the right foot on the lower end or portion 26 and placing the loop portion 25 between the blades and lifting upwardly on the handle 24, the blades may be safely and conveniently opened.

It will be noted that the inwardly bent tongues I8 carried by the inner end of each blade are inset from the side edges of the depending portion I3, to shield the tongues against contact with the side wall of the well into which the grapple is inserted. It also will be noted that the side edges of the blades contact the depending portion laterally of and below the tongues to resist twisting of the blades relative to the depending portion.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A grapple of the class described comprising a plurality of jar links having parallel side edges, one of. said .llinks h'aving acdepeniding portion having "flat outer faces, said depending-portion having transverse sockets formed on opposite sides thereof in opposed relation and inset from the side edges of the depending portion andrin transverse alignment, a grapple blade fitting flat against each opposite face of said depending portion, aligned spaced bo1tssecuring1the=bladesLto the depending portion, an inwardly bent anchoring tongue carried by the inner end of ea'chblazde and inset from the side edges of said depending -0 portion tozshield."the rtongueragainst;contact=with :ithezsaid' wall of'the welldnto'which .theggrapple inserted, :said tongues :being in .longitudinal zaligmnent "vwith 'said bolts :and in :transverse *alignment :relative to reach other :and .fitting in ;-25

r-said (sockets ron roppositersides of said depending zportion ;to-;finnly:anchor :the blades zagainst lat- 4 eral strain and lateral swinging movement relative to the bolts, the tongues and the inner faces of the sockets having abutment relation in a plane at right angles to the tongues, the side edges of the blades contacting the depending portion laterally of and below said tongues to resist twisting of the blades relative to the depending portion, the grapple blades being interchangeable and 01 substantially duplicate formation to ifitfiat 'uponieither side pfssaiddepending portion *and to 'tacilitate the assembling "or the grapple irrespective as to the sides upon which the respective grapple blades are fitted.

WALTER H. ELSEY.

REFERENCES CITED "zTheJollowingrreierences are of record igthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name .Date

114,989 Worthington 1960.,2, 1902 31,207,252 'W'hiteside Dec..,5, 19.16 34,668,254 Scott .v :May 1,1928 -,l,721 ,23,.4 Russell July.l6, 1929 4,757,882 iSillet-al. May 6,1930 2,187,884 Mark Jan.:23,-1940 

